Band: Vanir
Country of Origin: Denmark
Genre: Viking / Black / Folk metal
Type: Full Length
Format: CD
Length Approx.: 31:00 min.
Length Approx.: 31:00 min.
Release Date: 02-26-2016
Release Label: Mighty Music
IR Classification: Good (4.2 / 5)
Listen our review! (English)
A thunderous rebirth, relentless, aggressive and enrapturing
Danish band Vanir, were formed around 2009 in the town of
Roskilde, originally playing in the vein of Viking metal with folk elements,
they have been very proficient releasing three previous full lengths within
five years, their debut album "Særimners kød" came out in 2011,
resembling bands like Korpiklaani, Alestorm, Finntroll, their sophomore album
entitled "Onwards into Battle" was released one year later in 2012
with a more mature sound, heavy riffing and cheerful folktales, their third
effort saw the light during 2014 with the title "The Glorious Dead"
shifting very slightly their sound adding more death metal riffs to the Viking
core and diminishing folk elements, from the beginning they have counted with
full support of their record label Mighty Music and after two years waiting
finally they released their fourth album "Aldar Rök" featuring a new
line-up and redirecting their sound dramatically.
Vanir
seems they are totally dropping the folk elements in "Aldar Rök",
there is no more bagpipes and whistles, only keyboards remains in a more
symphonic scheme, moving into a black metal style darker, frightening and
overwhelming, with a little twist at the end, but before proceeding and get
into "Aldar Rök" let's meet their current line-up, which still consist
of original members Lars Bundvad in bass, Philip Kaaber in rhythm guitar,
Martin Håkan in vocals, Daniel Kronskov who recorded, "The Glorious
Dead", he remains behind the drums, Kirk Backarach and Stefan Dujardin
lead guitar and keyboards respectively, both are joining forces to enrapture
Vanir growing fan base.
"Aldar Rök" it might be short containing seven
tracks and barely reaching thirty one minutes, but surprisingly the quality
balances the experience in all aspects, the first track "Black Legion"
immediately start with a darker eerie intro to unchain rabid riffs and
relentless double bass drum, all wrapped in ominous synths and guttural vocals,
"Pretorian" evolves in a denser and heavier Viking riff intertwined
with some tremolo picking guitar, while the synths builds a sound wall in the
background, nuanced with devilish choruses to complete the song,
"Unrepentant" structured with bells sounds and bass lines to receive,
from afar a quiet guitar that become stronger and punitive, always with melodies
that shiver deeply in the soul due to the vocal tone, diversified between raspy
and growling, next is "Broken Throne", which exploits with a really
catchy and melodic riff, with synths that make a an impressive dual
soundscapes, the highs and lows inflict an immeasurable level of adrenaline,
this track is a beast and is followed for "Wrath of Sutr" it’s
appealing a lot of Amon Amarth's distinctive sound, with galloping riffage very
well interwoven with symphonic keyboards, very classic in the Viking vein,
"The Serpent" is peppered of death black metal riffing, are thick and
corrosive the drums draw a remorselessly blast beat pattern to match the pace,
the closing track is "Drukvisen" this is more oriented to their roots
where Viking and folk were one, same as the energy capture in their two first
albums, the intensity of the riffs and blast beats are amusing, excellent for
those who would cry over the folk passages buried in "Aldar Rök", the
only missing gem here is the absence of Sara Oddershede, who used to handled
the bagpipe and whistles, it is a real shame that we could not enjoy her talent
in the last track, maybe it would have been a good idea to have had her back as
a special guest.
The growth they have shown in this new
production is undeniable, at some point very dramatic due to the almost zero
appearances of folk elements, in the other hand the length becomes an issue, it
is true that the quality compensates a lot but at the end you will be craving
for more.
Stay
True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...
Track List:
01. Black Legion
02. Pretorian
03. Unrepentant
04. Broken Throne
05. Wrath of Sutr
06. The Serpent
07. Drukvisen
02. Pretorian
03. Unrepentant
04. Broken Throne
05. Wrath of Sutr
06. The Serpent
07. Drukvisen
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